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Statement-Assumption / Conclusion

Reasoning Ability · Mains Reasoning

Useful for: SSC CGL, Railway RRB, IBPS Banking, OSSC RHT — Regular High School Teacher, OSEPA Primary Teacher / JT Category-I, OSEPA Upper Primary — Arts, OSEPA Upper Primary — Science, OSSSC Govt Physical Education Teacher (PET)

and 3 more exams

OSSSC Govt TGT Arts, OSSSC Govt TGT Science — CBZ, OSSSC Govt TGT Science — PCM

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Overview

Critical-thinking items test assumptions, strong and weak arguments, courses of action and inferences from short passages.

Key points

An assumption is unstated but necessary for the statement to make sense.
A strong argument is relevant, important and directly related to the question.
A course of action should be practical and address the problem without overreacting.
Inference: definitely true, probably true, inadequate data, probably false, definitely false.
Avoid extreme or emotional options.

Explanation

Negation test: if negating an assumption breaks the statement, the assumption is implicit.
Arguments based on examples or emotions alone are weak.
Courses of action that ban things completely are usually rejected.
Use only the passage for inferences.

Step by step

Identify the pattern, rule or relationship.
Apply it carefully to the question part.
Verify against every condition before marking.

Examples

"Use our toothpaste for stronger teeth" assumes that people want stronger teeth → implicit.
Should exams be abolished? "Yes, students feel stressed" is weak (one effect only).
Problem: frequent road accidents at a crossing. Course of action: install signals and speed checks → follows.

Traps and advanced points

Trap: Accepting extreme courses of action.
Trap: Treating any related point as a strong argument.
Trap: Using outside facts for inferences.

Quick revision

Negation test for assumptions.
Strong = relevant + important.
Practical courses of action.

Practice MCQs

What is the larger of two positive integers? I. Their sum is 96. II. Their difference is 80. Choose the data-sufficiency result.
1. Statement I alone is sufficient
2. Both statements together are sufficient, but neither alone is sufficient
3. Statement II alone is sufficient
4. Either statement alone is sufficient
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Answer: (b) Both statements together are sufficient, but neither alone is sufficient. Two equations are needed to determine two unknown integers uniquely.
Which option arranges 104, 128, 130, 136 from smallest to largest?
1. 104 < 128 < 130 < 136
2. 136 < 130 < 128 < 104
3. 128 < 104 < 130 < 136
4. 104 < 130 < 128 < 136
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Answer: (a) 104 < 128 < 130 < 136. Compare values and arrange ascending.
Which option arranges 120, 122, 125, 128 from smallest to largest?
1. 120 < 125 < 122 < 128
2. 122 < 120 < 125 < 128
3. 120 < 122 < 125 < 128
4. 128 < 125 < 122 < 120
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Answer: (c) 120 < 122 < 125 < 128. Compare values and arrange ascending.
Which option arranges 21, 56, 61, 72 from smallest to largest?
1. 21 < 56 < 61 < 72
2. 56 < 21 < 61 < 72
3. 72 < 61 < 56 < 21
4. 21 < 61 < 56 < 72
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Answer: (a) 21 < 56 < 61 < 72. Compare values and arrange ascending.
Which option arranges 34, 48, 57, 95 from smallest to largest?
1. 34 < 48 < 57 < 95
2. 48 < 34 < 57 < 95
3. 95 < 57 < 48 < 34
4. 34 < 57 < 48 < 95
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Answer: (a) 34 < 48 < 57 < 95. Compare values and arrange ascending.
Which option arranges 76, 79, 125, 127 from smallest to largest?
1. 79 < 76 < 125 < 127
2. 76 < 125 < 79 < 127
3. 76 < 79 < 125 < 127
4. 127 < 125 < 79 < 76
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Answer: (c) 76 < 79 < 125 < 127. Compare values and arrange ascending.
Which option arranges 88, 108, 127, 138 from smallest to largest?
1. 108 < 88 < 127 < 138
2. 138 < 127 < 108 < 88
3. 88 < 127 < 108 < 138
4. 88 < 108 < 127 < 138
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Answer: (d) 88 < 108 < 127 < 138. Compare values and arrange ascending.
Which option arranges 99, 144, 152, 155 from smallest to largest?
1. 99 < 152 < 144 < 155
2. 155 < 152 < 144 < 99
3. 144 < 99 < 152 < 155
4. 99 < 144 < 152 < 155
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Answer: (d) 99 < 144 < 152 < 155. Compare values and arrange ascending.
Statement: Every multiple of 11 is divisible by 11. 715 is a multiple of 11. Conclusion: 715 is divisible by 11.
1. Both statement and conclusion are unrelated
2. Conclusion follows
3. Conclusion does not follow
4. Statement contradicts conclusion
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Answer: (b) Conclusion follows. Apply the universal rule to the stated member.
Statement: Every multiple of 13 is divisible by 13. 429 is a multiple of 13. Conclusion: 429 is divisible by 13.
1. Conclusion follows
2. Statement contradicts conclusion
3. Conclusion does not follow
4. Both statement and conclusion are unrelated
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Answer: (a) Conclusion follows. Apply the universal rule to the stated member.